as in poisonous
bad for the well-being of the body
the unhealthful level of smog in the city
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Recent Examples of unhealthful
Health professionals encourage people to use lean cuts of meat because most of the fat in animal products is unhealthful saturated fat, which can raise the risk of heart disease and cancer.
—
Bethany Thayer, Detroit Free Press, 22 June 2024
With fire comes unhealthful smoke, which also threatens air quality for much of the U.S.
Wildfire smoke blankets much of the East
Many of the areas experiencing wildfire smoke will see moderate air quality for the next several days, according to the U.S. Air Quality Index.
—Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY, 21 June 2024
The map is color-coded to indicate whether the air is good, unhealthful or hazardous.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2024
In Los Angeles County, however, residents should avoid the water at certain coastal locations because the bacterial levels reached unhealthful levels when last tested, according to an L.A. County Department of Public Health news release.
—Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for unhealthful
Bethany Thayer, Detroit Free Press, 22 June 2024
With fire comes unhealthful smoke, which also threatens air quality for much of the U.S.
Wildfire smoke blankets much of the East
Many of the areas experiencing wildfire smoke will see moderate air quality for the next several days, according to the U.S. Air Quality Index.
—Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY, 21 June 2024
The map is color-coded to indicate whether the air is good, unhealthful or hazardous.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2024
In Los Angeles County, however, residents should avoid the water at certain coastal locations because the bacterial levels reached unhealthful levels when last tested, according to an L.A. County Department of Public Health news release.
—Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for unhealthful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unhealthful
Adjective
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Though gorgeous with color, azaleas are poisonous to animals and humans when ingested.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
8 Apr. 2025
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Every part of the pong pong tree is poisonous, but the leaves and barks aren’t as potent as the seeds.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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In lieu of discussions of who is best for the role artistically, the question becomes who will sell more tickets (Ivy has 3 million followers but TikTok influencers rally around Chloe) and create a less toxic workplace.—
Christian Lewis,
Variety,
11 Apr. 2025
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Hacks follows the hilariously toxic relationship between Deborah Vance (Jean Smart), a legendary Las Vegas comedian trying to stage a comeback, and Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder), a younger sad sack comedy writer.—
Rudie Obias,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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That includes toxic romantic relationships, unbalanced friendships and familial bonds, unhealthy work environments, and more.—
Victoria Uwumarogie,
Essence,
18 Apr. 2025
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Americans increasingly view alcohol as unhealthy, with recent studies linking alcohol to cancer, and federal health officials attribute 178,000 deaths a year to excess drinking.—
Robert McCoppin,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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As for the place, its veneer of comfortable tourism doesn’t hide the air of something unwholesome, especially when female guests start randomly throwing up.—
David Rooney,
The Hollywood Reporter,
16 Feb. 2024
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Less visibly, Manton operated a side business with a more unwholesome objective: cashing in on his status and power as a judge.—
Time,
Time,
25 July 2023
Adjective
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The guy next to you steps out of his sneakers, releasing noxious gases strong enough to choke you.—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
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Our endorsement was also fueled by Fine’s utterly noxious behavior.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Two figures, Gavin Williamson, the education secretary who has blown hot and cold over whether children can go back to school, and Robert Jenrick, the local-government minister, who is entangled in a scandal with an insalubrious party donor, look particularly dismal.—
The Economist,
The Economist,
20 June 2020
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The refuse rising in insalubrious piles, some taller than the pedestrians trying to avoid them, is a smelly, visceral symbol of popular outrage at the government’s plan.—
Catherine Porter,
New York Times,
15 Mar. 2023
Adjective
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But does that mean that vegans are going against human’s evolutionary history and are bound to be weak, sickly, and even stupid?—
Marianne Krasny,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
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The collection of slab-like columns by Derek McLane, lit in sickly, sullen colors by Natasha Katz, could be anywhere.—
Jesse Green,
New York Times,
24 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unhealthful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unhealthful. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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